US6166139AExpiredUtility

Paintable, surface-damage resistant compounded grade thermoplastic olefin (TPO)

50
Assignee: VISTEON GLOBAL TECH INCPriority: Dec 28, 1998Filed: Dec 28, 1998Granted: Dec 26, 2000
Est. expiryDec 28, 2018(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Rose A. Ryntz
C08L 23/12C08L 23/16
50
PatentIndex Score
11
Cited by
11
References
20
Claims

Abstract

A painted thermoplastic olefin (TPO) comprising a blend of elastomer and polypropylene. The polypropylene has a number average molecular weight of about 35,000 to about 70,000 and a polypropylene percent crystallinity of about 45 to about 70%. The elastomer has a number average molecular weight of about 20,000 to about 60,000 and an elastomer crystallinity of about 14 to about 60%. The TPO has a polypropylene to elastomer viscosity ratio of about 0.2:1 to about 30:1.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A paintable thermoplastic olefin (TPO) comprising: a blend of elastomer and polypropylene, the polypropylene having a number average molecular weight of about 35,000 to about 70,000 and a polypropylene percent crystallinity of about 45 to about 70%, the elastomer having a number average molecular weight of about 20,000 to about 60,000, the elastomer having an elastomer crystallinity of about 14 to about 60%, the TPO having a polypropylene to elastomer viscosity ratio of about 0.2:1 to about 30:1.   
     
     
       2. The paintable TPO of claim 1 wherein the elastomer is present in an amount of about 15 to 35 weight percent based on the weight of the TPO. 
     
     
       3. The paintable TPO of claim 2 wherein the polypropylene is present in an amount of about 65 to 85% by weight, based on the weight of the TPO. 
     
     
       4. The paintable TPO of claim 3 wherein the polypropylene has a molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn) of about 2 to about 4. 
     
     
       5. The paintable TPO of claim 4 wherein the polypropylene has a percent crystallinity of about 45 to about 55%. 
     
     
       6. The paintable TPO of claim 5 wherein the elastomer has a molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn) of about 1.75 to about 5. 
     
     
       7. The paintable TPO of claim 6 wherein the elastomer has a percent crystallinity of about 30 to about 50%. 
     
     
       8. The paintable TPO of claim 1 wherein the TPO has a polypropylene to elastomer viscosity ratio of about 1:1 to about 4:1. 
     
     
       9. The paintable TPO of claim 8 wherein the elastomer comprises polypropylene and polyethylene. 
     
     
       10. The paintable TPO of claim 1 wherein the TPO consists essentially of the polypropylene and the elastomer. 
     
     
       11. A paintable automobile bumper formed of the TPO of claim 1. 
     
     
       12. A method of making a paintable thermoplastic olefin (TPO), the method comprising: providing polypropylene having a number average molecular weight of about 35,000 to about 70,000 and a polypropylene percent crystallinity of about 45 to about 70%;   providing elastomer having a number average molecular weight of about 20,000 to about 60,000, the elastomer having a percent elastomer crystallinity of about 14 to about 60%;   compounding the elastomer and the polypropylene in a vessel to form the TPO, the TPO having a viscosity ratio of propylene to elastomer between about 0.2:1 to about 30:1.   
     
     
       13. The method of claim 12 wherein the elastomer is present in an amount of about 15 to 35 weight percent, based on the weight of the TPO and the polypropylene is present in an amount of about 65 to 85% by weight, based on the weight of the TPO. 
     
     
       14. The method of claim 13 wherein the polypropylene has a molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn) of about 2 to about 4. 
     
     
       15. The method of claim 14 wherein the polypropylene has a percent crystallinity of about 45 to about 55%. 
     
     
       16. The method of claim 15 wherein the elastomer has a molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn) of about 1.75 to about 5. 
     
     
       17. The method of claim 16 wherein the elastomer has a percent crystallinity of about 30 to about 50%. 
     
     
       18. The method of claim 12 wherein the TPO has a polypropylene to elastomer viscosity ratio of about 1:1 to about 4:1. 
     
     
       19. The method of claim 12 wherein the paintable TPO has a layer of paint adhered thereto. 
     
     
       20. The method of claim 12 wherein the TPO has a layer of paint adhered thereto.

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